CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!!
I'm now teaching at home by appointment ONLY! 25 buckaroos for a regular class; 75 clams for a private session
Click here for details!
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Yoga Bits
Morsels of yogic wisdom and information
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Sept. 10 - 16, 2012
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Are you freaking out about the changes to my home teaching schedule?
Don't sweat it, just
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Become a fan of Budgie Bhajan! Click here to like his page
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How Do I Judge Thee?
Let me count the ways
"See it clearly without judgment and let it go. Come back to the present moment. From now on until the moment of your death, you could do this." -- Pema Chodron I spent most of my life harshly judging all kinds of people and things. I believed that because I was most often on the side of the underdog, those who needed advocacy, my judgment was morally justifiable.  | "There's no need to fear. Underdog
is here!" |
That's a fancy way of saying I was self-righteous as all get-out. (Translation for those readers not of Southern United States extraction: I was self-righteous as hell.) In my late 30s, I came crashing down off my soapbox. It hurt. Badly. I was so cowed -- and, quite honestly, ashamed of my past behavior -- that for a while I was in danger of declining to form an opinion about absolutely anything. Fortunately, various constructive influences, including yoga, helped me recognize that judgment in the form of discernment is a reasonable and necessary human trait. If you check out the dictionary definitions of "judgment" and "discernment," they are not that different. Both concern the act of forming an intellectual opinion or conclusion based on information. Discernment, however, is one of the most precious skills cultivated by a regular yoga practice. Discernment allows us to note the changes in our breath, the quality of our relationship to a pose and the nature of our own thoughts. |
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In this formula, discernment, unlike judgment, carries with it no significant attachment. Judgment, of course, doesn't have be an emotional endeavor. In courts of law, for example, impartiality is highly valued when making judgments. But in regular every day life, our judgment tends to be subjective and, therefore, is usually a bit sticky.
I think one mistake people make in trying to "overcome" their judgment is just that: they try to overcome it. Instead, just drop it. DROP! You will never successfully talk or think your way free from judging harshly. You might tamp it down for a bit, but it won't take much to fan those flames. If you find yourself especially resistant to letting go of destructive judgment, it may be time to ask yourself what you believe you are gaining from the habit.
 Often, we substitute judgment for protection or correction. Perhaps you look in the mirror and criticize those extra pounds thinking that cracking the whip on yourself will get you onto the treadmill. Or maybe you feel like the neighbors wasted a lot of good money buying another BMW -- because you can't afford one and, if you were honest about it, you judge yourself as being unsuccessful as a result.
If, instead, you just simply DROPPED the judgment, what might happen? How much free time would you have on your hands if you weren't spending cumulative hours in the day cultivating various opinions? What feelings, challenges or blessings might arise from you simply being present in the moment, taking notice without attaching judgment?
Pema Chodron says, "From now on until the moment of your death, you could do this."
What if she's right?
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Regular Kundalini, Hatha and Restorative classes at my home studio in North Hollywood are now $25 each and can be scheduled upon request. Private sessions are $75 and consist of a 30- to 60-minute consultation, a custom recipe for a personal practice based on your individual needs, and 30 minutes of follow-up instruction by phone or in person.
Why? WHY? WHY?????
Upset by the changes to the home schedule?
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The techniques and suggestions presented in Yoga Bits are not intended as medical claims or to substitute for proper medical advice. Consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program. If you are elderly or have any chronic or recurring conditions such as high blood pressure, neck or back pain, arthritis, heart disease, and so on, seek your physician's advice before practicing.
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